After setting clothes alight at his flat in Kingdom House he faced eviction. He then claimed he would blow the flat up so no-on else would have it, before prompting police to call in the bomb squad due to his threat of mass destruction.

Firefighters leave the scene of a chemical alert in Gas Ferry Road, Bristol, after being stood down (Image: Michael Yong)

He also said he was trying to make a gun from an umbrella and urinated on a banana to turn it into a weapon.

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Richard Posner, prosecuting, said it was in June last year when Francis argued with his cousin and set alight clothes and electrical items on the hob of his flat in Kingdom House, near the SS Great Britain.

Firefighters attended to the incident and Francis admitted starting the fire which caused £375 damage.

Firefighters at the scene of a chemical incident on Gas Ferry Road in Bristol (Image: Michael Yong)

When his housing association served him with an eviction notice, Francis told support worker Louise Tonks if he couldn’t have the flat, no-one could.

Mr Posner told the court: “He said he had gas cylinders he stole from the Harbour Festival and he would blow it up.

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In the meantime an Army bomb disposal unit using specialist equipment entered Francis’ flat and found what appeared to be an IED device which transpired to be aerosol-type cans wrapped in film and packed with flour, with a home-made foil fuse.

The investigation tied up police for 100 hours and involved multi-agencies such as firefighters, ambulance personnel, Bristol City Council, Western Power and the Red Cross.

The cordon was finally lifted around 1.15am, after a thorough search of the premises. When Francis was interviewed it was clear his claims were “exaggerated” and he declined to comment.

Gas Ferry Road residents are allowed back to their homes after a chemical alert which led to hundreds of people being evacuated (Image: Michael Yong)

Farah Rashid, defending, said her client had been told to leave school but attained qualifications at college and lived independently.

She said he had been diagnosed with ADHD and was taking drugs purchased via the internet in great quantities which made him lose his grip on reality.